Karl Rehn started gigging professionally in clubs on Austin's 6th Street when he was 17, and spent 25 years playing in rock, jazz, blues and funk bands in Austin, including Austin Chronicle Music poll winners TrikTrax, Stuck in Neutral and the Ken Ragsdale Orchestra. In 2008 he relocated to Bryan/College Station and became a popular sideman. He has released 3 CDs of original music: Lost in Time, "et al", and Respectable, all available on iTunes, emusic, amazon and other online retailers. His personal music website, featuring free downloads of live shows and samples of studio CDs, is ►karlrehnmusic.com.
Heath Allyn (Lead Guitar/Vocals) from Austin, TX is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who, in addition to his own songs, has written jingles, film scores, and much more covering a wide variety of genres and mediums. He's also the lead singer and guitar player for The Rock-A-Fellas and an actor who has appeared in films, commercials and television series. He lives his dreams in Austin, TX.
Greg Patterson (lead vocalist) was born in Anchorage, Alaska.
His desire to start singing began at a young age and he spent much time singing a cappella music, which helped cultivate his singing talent. Growing up he was an athlete participating in several organized sports and he also developed an interest in building hotrods. He became known as "Mr. Fix-it" always getting a kick out of helping others develop solutions for technical problems. After graduating from College with an A.A.S degree in Electronics he became a real world Mr. Fix-it.
As a young adult, Greg became captivated by the great Rock & Roll bands of the 60's, 70's and 80's such as Chicago, Steely Dan, Blood Sweat &Tears, and others, "These guys were awesome". However, he decided it was time to form a Chicago Tribute band that performs the Great Hits like they were played back then! Greg teamed up with his Professional Musician friends and formed the band "Changes".
Jason Navasard (Bass) from Huntsville, TX has been playing bass for over 30 years. Originally from Lake Jackson, TX where in 1990 was chosen as the bassist for the TMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble. From 1990 - 1993, he was the bassist for the Sam Houston State University Jazz Ensemble and since has worked with such artists including Trent Hanna (piano/composer), B/CS saxophonist Pablo Tani, recording artist Patti Rayne, and Austin singer/songwriter Tim Plank (w/Six Foot Plank). Jason lives and plays by the rule, "You Can't Hold No Groove If You Ain't Got No Pocket!"
Craig received his first drum set at the age of 12 and immediately began annoying his family with hours of unskilled pounding and flailing. In his teens he started hanging out at rehearsals of friends that were in bands and that sold Craig on the idea of being a musician, or at the very least, a drummer. Joining his first band at 17 he was ready to hit the big time. Turns out there is much more to it than being ready. He gained experience playing with popular bands in the D/FW area in the mid 80's and moved to B/CS in the late 80's. Since living in the Brazos Valley he's had the good fortune and privilege to play with many of the area's best musicians and bands. Skilled at many genres of music he enjoys being able to entertain crowds whether they want to dance, listen or mosh.
Michael Holleman, (Percussion/Vocals/Guitar) has performed and/or recorded with the following: NYC Broadway production of "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas", Cleveland's Playhouse Square productions of "Pump Boys and Dinettes", "Diamond Studs", Major Motion Picture soundtracks for directors Peter Bogdanovich and Sam Shepard. Toured and/or recorded with artists: Jim Lauderdale, Shawn Colvin, Sheryl Crow, The Lost Gonzo Band, Great Recession Orchestra, Delbert McClinton, Doug Sahm, Augie Meyers, Lonnie Mack, Harvey Brooks, T-Bone Wolk, Hugh McDonald, Kinky Friedman, Bo Diddly, The Platters, Tanya Tucker, Dave Keyes, Popa Chubby, Peter Rowan, Henry Gross, Buddy Whittington, Junior Brown, John Leventhal, Tracy Nelson, Buddy Miller, Mickey Gilley, three tours in Iraq playing for the troops and three performances at The White House with Granger Smith, comedian Martin Short and many more...
Currently, Michael's focus is working with Texas talent from a wide genre of musical styles including Jazz, R&B, Rock, Western Swing and Americana, bringing his expertise to enhance and compliment each act he accompanies. These include singer/songwriter Debbie Glenn and Southern Disposition, Texas Swing Unlimited as well as local favorites: Brazos Valley All-Star Band, Texas T-Birds, Changes, Midnight Express, Santa's Wonderland, Karl Rehn, Peter Lieuwen Trio, and others...
Michael Fortunato is a multi-instrumentalist, entertainer, and songwriter specializing in clarinet, saxophone, flute, and auxiliary woodwinds. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Michael played in the area jazz scene and worked with independent record label Alanna Records from a young age as a project coordinator, then co-producer with Bill Lawrence. He released six internationally-distributed albums on Alanna in the "Michael Fortunato and the New Stanton Band" series, playing old-school, richly orchestral clarinet jazz standards. Later, Michael launched his own artist management company in New York City, Fortunet Entertainment, and toured with a variety of original and cover touring groups including Royal Benson, the Alex Meixner Band, Cootie Brown, Audio Imagery, Seven Souls, The Purple Church/J.Hill Xperience, The Hounds of Soul, Lady G and the Swing Authority, Matty B's 3, a variety of theatrical pit orchestras, and others. A lover of spontaneity and versatile player of many diverse styles, Michael enjoys meeting, playing, improvising, and entertaining with musicians under just about any circumstances.
Josh Porter, has been playing trombone for 28 years. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2005 with a B.M. in trombone performance. He credits his early interest in trombone to his father. He has had several mentors throughout his education and career who have helped shape him as a musician: Robin Owens, James Wallace, Dr. Deb Scott, and Byron Swann.
Josh now lives in the Waco area with his wife and two sons. He is a music educator and continues to freelance on trombone at every opportunity. He had a 10 year run as the trombonist for Baylor's All-University Sing and Pigskin productions. He plays lead trombone in the Waco Jazz Orchestra, performs with the Waco Community Band, and performs with Slide Tradition, a jazz quintet he formed with his brother paying tribute to JJ Johnson and Kai Winding.
Matt Porter began his undergraduate studies in music at Stephen F. Austin State University and completed his BA and MA at Austin Graduate School of Theology and MSLS at the University of North Texas. He now lives and works in the Waco, TX area, where he plays trombone for the Waco Jazz Orchestra and Slide Tradition, a jazz quintet paying tribute to the great trombone duet of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding. Matt also has multiple compositions published in a three-volume psalter commentary, Timeless: Ancient Psalms for the Church Today (ACU Press) and frequently composes and arranges for his local congregation.
Originally from Los Angeles, Robert Gallegos began his career as a musician in the United States Air Force Bands. He has worked as a freelance trumpet player and educator throughout the Americas, China, and South Africa.
Robert has preformed with The Boston Pops, Catholic Churches for the Archdiocese of Boston, Ray Charles, The Temptations, The O'Jays, Frankie Valli, and many others. He is former Assistant Professor of Ensemble, and Brass studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston Massachusetts.
Berklee College of Music- Boston, MA.
Bachelor of Music, Music Education
Summa Cum Laude
Lee "Sparky" Thomason is a trumpet player, composer, arranger, teacher, clinician, adjudicator, and parent from Rockdale who performs mostly in the Austin area. He is currently playing with several groups including the Temple Jazz Orchestra, the N.O.W. (New Original Works) Jazz Orchestra, Roger Velasquez and the Latin Legends, Stereomonde, the Communities in Concert Band, the Urban Achievers Brass Band, and the Brazos Valley Big Band. (He also subs in with anybody else whenever the phone rings!)
In addition, he maintains a busy private studio with students from Austin. Hutto, Pflugerville, Bastrop, and is the adjunct trumpet professor at Huston Tillotson University. He has previously been a band director for 12 years.
"Sparky" has been arranging and composing big band jazz charts for the past 30 years that have been performed by high school, college, and professional bands all over Texas and Utah, where he lived for seven years. He has arranged charts for the Latin groups Mambo Jumbo, Latin Breed, and Roger Velasquez and the Latin Legends, as well as the Temple Jazz Orchestra.